Elevator



G. R. HUNT ELEVATOR Jan. 6, 1931.

Filed NOV. 9, 1929 Patented Jan. 6, 1931 STATES IJSLEZt GERALD HUNT, or LOS'ANGELES, CALIFORNIA ELEVATOR Application fii'ed novinber 9,1929. Serial no. .40s,o2e.-

This invention relates to an elevator for handling Well drilling tools and equipment. Elevators are employed in well drilling rigs for handling drill pipe, casing, etc., and are used more particuarly jfor suspending swings the elevator into position around the upper portion of a vertically arranged part,

such as a length of drill pipe, and swings is done when such a the'door or gate of the elevator shut. This arranging of the elevator around the pipe is often done when the elevator is in motion. In the event that the door or gate of the ele vator is not securely latched or locked, the elevator may engage a pipe coupling, or other projecting part on the pipe, and raise the pipe some distance, and then, through lateral shifting or other cause, the coupling may slip from the elevator and let the pipe fall to the floor of the derrick. As the lengths of pipe or casing are very heavy, considerable damage part drops or falls as described above. i

It is a general object of the invention to provide an elevator in which the body of the elevator is shifted outwardly from a coupling, or the like, on the drill pipe, casing, or other part to be handled bythe elevator, to a position where the coupling will not be engaged and lifted by the elevator, in the event the door or gate is not latched.

Another object of the invention is to provide an elevator of the character mentioned in which the body of the elevator may be freely arranged around the part to be handled by the elevator without any resistance.

It is another object of'the invention to provide an elevator of the character mentioned in which the means for holding the elevator from the coupling on the part to be handled does not require manual operation or setting.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction in the form of an attachment that may be embodied on or applied to any suitable form of side. door elevator to operate'as above mentioned.

It is a further object of the inventio'n to provide a construction of the, character mentioned Which embodies a minimumnumber of parts and is particularly simpleandineizpensive of manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction of the character mentioned in which the coupling engaging part may be set or latched out ofoperation when desired. L

Other objects and features of the invention willbe best and more fully understood from the followingdetai-led description of a typical form and application of the, invention, throughout which description reference. is had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an elevator'embodying the present invention, illustrating a length of casing extending through it and showing itin the open. position. Fig. 2 is a top or plan view taken as indicated by line 22 on Fig. '1, Fig; 3 is an enlarged vertical detailed sectional view, being a view illustrating the position of the device before the elevator has engaged the' coupling. Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig.3 showing the upper side of the elevator engaging the coupling. Fig. 5 is a horizontal detailed sectional view of the coupling engaging arm. Fig. 6 is a vertical detailed sectional view illustrating the'arm in a retracted position. i

In the drawings I have illustrated the invention as embodied in a typicalform of elevator and will consider the elevator as being adapted to handle a length of casing 10 having a coupling at its upper end. As the invention may be embodied in various forms of side-door elevators for handling various well drilling tools or equipment, it is not to be considered as limited to the particular form of elevator about to be described or to the pars ticular form of well drilling tool or part which the elevator is adapted to handle. The device provided by this invention includes, generally, an elevator 11 having a body section 12 and a gate or door section 1.3,

a bracket 14 on the elevator, an arm 15 pivotally attached to the bracket 14, means 16 nor- 'mally yieldingly urging the arm 15 into a position whereit isadapted to engage apart will consider as adapted to handle the casing 10. The main section 12 of the elevator may be of substantially U-shaped configuratlon having an opening 18 to receive the casing 10. The inner portionofthe opening 18 is preferably curved to conform to the configut ration of the casing. The upper end orside 19 of the main'section 12 is preferably made flat to receive or support the coupling collar Projecting bail ears 21. are provided on'opposite sides of the main section 12 to receive bails 22 for carrying the elevator. V

The door or gate section 13 is pivotally attached to one of the side parts of the main section and is in the nature of a, closure adapted to extendacross the open side of the opening 18. The gat'e section'13 is pivotally is closed or latched. have a curved lnner side to seat against the attached or mounted on the side part 23 of the main section 12 by a vertical pivot pin 24. The'inner side of the gate section 13 is preferably curved to conform to the configuration of the casing 10. A latch 25 is provided on the gate section 13 to engage a lug 26011 themain section 12. The latch 25 is pivoted on the exterior of the gate section and is adapted to engage the lug 26 to retain the gate section inthe closed position. In the particular form of elevator shown the latch 25 is normally yieldingly urged by a spring 27 into a position to automatically cooperate with the lug 26 when the gate section 13 is swung into the closed position. The latch 25 is provided with a handle 28 which acts as a means for releasing the latch as well as a means for shifting the gate section;

The bracket 14 is provided to carry the arm 15 and projects above the top or upper side 19 of the main section. The bracket 14 may be of various constructions, depending upon the particular elevator to which it is attached or on which it may be formed. In the partic ular case shown the bracket 14 is in the nature of an attachment and is in the form of a simpleunitary part to be vertically arranged at the exterior of the main section12 of the elevator. The bracket 14 is preferably an elongated part and extends from the lower =side of the mainsection and projects from the upper edge of the section. The bracket 14 is preferably centrally located on the section so that it is directly opposite the center of the gate section 13, when the gate section The bracket 14 imay curved exterior of the main section 12 of the elevator andmay be attached to the elevator by spaced studs 30. The bracket 14 is preferably of heavy construction andprojects a 14, that is, the portion projecting above the elevator,- may be curved inwardly ortoward the center of the elevator.

pling 20 in such a manner as to hold the eleva- Itor spaced from the casing so that the elevator does not engage the lower side of the coupling unless the gate section is in the latched position. .The arm 15 depends from the upper end pot the bracket 14 and is preferably pivotally 20, or like projecting part,'on the casing 10;

attached to the bracket. In the preferred form of the invention the upper end of the bracket 14 is provided with yoked portions 32 and the upper end of the arm '15 extends between the portions 32. A pivot pin 33 extendsbetween the yoked portions 32 and pivotally mounts the arm 15 on the bracket. 'The arm 15 extends downwardly and its lower end is spaced a short distance above the up er side 19of the section 12. The lower end or the arm is preferably normally adjacent the edge of the opening 18. The lower portion or the coupling engaging portion of the arm 15'is preferably comparatively wide and its inner side 34 iscurved to effectively slide over the coupling when the gate section is latched and to engage the coupling when the gate is open or unlatched. In the particular case shown the lower portion of the arm 15 is of curved cross section, as clearly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

The means 16 is provided to yieldingly urge the lower portion of the arm 15 inwardly, to a position where it will engage the coupling. The means 16 operates to normally resist inward movement of the arm 15, when engaged by the coupling, .so that the elevator is held away from the coupling 20 a sufiicient distance toallow-the elevator to be raised over the coupling in the event the gate 13 is not latched. The means 16 includes a spring 35 arranged under compression between the outer side of the arm 15 and the bracket 14. In accordance with the invention, means is provided for guiding the spring 35 and for holding the spring against displacement. v A

. The arm 15 is provided to engage the couthe stem 36 and to allow for a certain amount of vertical movement of the stem. Thestem 36'projects outwardly from the bracket 14,

and an. adjusting nut 40 maybe screw threade ed on the end of. the stem. .The nut 40 acts ciently'strong to offer considerable resistance when the arm 15 is swung outwardly. I The means 17 is. provided to set-or lock the arm 15in a retracted position where it 'Will be free of thecoupling 20. The means 17 includes a shoulder 50 on the stem 36. The

shoulder 50 is provided intermediate the ends a of the stem 36 and is adapted to seat against the outer side of the bracket 14:. In the case illustrated the shoulder 50 is in the nature of the end wall or end of a notch 51 formed on the lower side of the stem 36. The shoulder 50 issubstantially vertical and the notch 51 is formed to receive the lower wallof the opening 37. When it is desired to setthe arm 15 in the retracted position, the arm is forced outwardly until the notch 51 receives,

the lower portion of the opening 37 and the shoulder 50 engages the outer side of the bracket 14.

It is-believed that the operation of the device provided by this invention will be ap parent from the foregoing detailed description. It is to be noted that the device is par- 6 ticularly simple of construction and is effective in preventing the elevator from engagthe gate 13 is not latched when the elevator is operated upwardly. In employing the elevator construction provided by this invention, the elevator is swung or arranged around the casing 10 in the usual manner. If the gate section 13 is latched when the elevator is arranged on the casing, the arm 15 engages the coupling and is forced outward when the elevator is raised. In the event the gate section is not properly latched, the

havlng an opening adapted to engage around apart, a gate section adapt-ed to retain a arm strikes the coupling and the spring is sufliciently strong to prevent the arm from being forced outward relative to the elevator, and the elevator is shifted bodily outward so that it does not engage the bo tom of the coupling. In this manner the elevat-or is positively prevented from raising the casing if the gate 13 is not latched. It is to be noted that the arm 15 may be forced outwardly relative to the elevator when the gate is latched, to a position where the coupling 20 is free to seat against the upper' side 19 ofcthe elevator. The invention may be embodied in a single unitary structure or attachment as shown in the drawings, and may be proportioned so that it is adapted to ing and lifting the coupling 20 in the event having an opening adaptedto engage around be used iniconnection with'various forms 0 elevators. v, Having described only a typical, preferred form of my invention, I do not wish to limit myself to the specific details set forth, but, wish to reserve to myself any changes or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the space of 1e foilowing claims. I

i-Iavmg described my invention, I claim 1. In an1elevator, a main section, a gate section,-;and means on the main section adapted to hold the elevator spaced from a projection. on a part extendin through the elevator. p

2. An elevator of'the character described including, amain section. having an opening, a gate sectionadapted to'close the opening, and means on the main section for holding the main section spaced from projection on a part extending through the opening when the gate section is open:

3. An elevator of the character described including, a main section having an opening,

a gatesection adapted to close the opening, 1

and spring means on the main section-for holding the mainsection spaced from a projection on, a part extending through the open ing when the gate section is open.

4. An elevatorof the character described including, a main. section a part, a gate section adapted to retain a part in the opening, means for holding the main sectionspaced from a projection on a part extendinginto the opening when the gate section is open including, an arm pivoted tothe main section, and means yieldingly urging the arm toward the central longitudinal axis of the .openin 6. An elevator including, a main section part in the ,opening, means for holding the 'main section spaced from a projection on a part extending into' the opening when the gate section is open including, an arm pivoted to the main section, and a spring normally yieldingly urging the arm toward the axis of .the opening.

'-7. An elevator including, a main section havingan opening adapted to engage around a .part, a gate section adaptedto retain a part in the opening, and means for holding the main 'section'spaced from a part extending intothe opening when the gate section is open including, a bracket projecting from ,the main section, an arm pivotally attached to, the bracket, and means yieldingly urging the arm toward the axis of the opening.

' 8. An elevator including, a main section having an opening adapted to engage around a part, a gate section adapted to retain a part in the opening, and means for holding the main section spaced from a projection on a part extending into the opening including,

a bracket projecting above the main section, an arm pivotally attached to. the bracket and depending. from' the bracket, and a spring yieldingly urging the lower portion of the arm toward the axis of the'opening.

9. An elevator including, a main section having an opening adapted to engage around a part, a gate section adapted to retaina part in the opening, and means for holding the main section spaced from a projection on a part extending into the opening when the.

gate is open including, a bracket projecting above the main section, an arm pivotally attached to the bracket and depending from the bracket, and a spring between the bracket and the arm yieldingly urging the lower portion of thearm toward the axis of theopen-v ing.

10. An elevator including, a body having have hereunto subscribed .an opening adapted toengage around a part,

projection on a part in the opening when the V retaining means is inoperative including, a pivoted arm, a spring urgmg the arm toward the axis of the'opening, aguide'stem on the arm, an adjustable part on the stem to limit movement of the arm, and means holding the spring retracted including a shoulder on the stem. r

15. An attachment for an elevator adapted to'engage around a member'which includes, a bracket adapted to be attached to the elevator, an arm pivoted to the bracket, and means yieldingly urging the arm against. a projection on a member extending into the elevator. V

16. An'attachment foran elevator adapted to engage around a member which includes, a bracket adapted to be attached to the elevator, an arm pivoted to the bracket, and means yieldingly urging the arm against a projection on a member extending into the elevator including a spring arranged between the bracket and the arm.

In Witness that I claim the foregoing I 7 my name this 28th day of October,1929." v

v i V GERALD R. HUNT.

11. An elevator including, a body having an opening adapted to engage around a part,

means for holding the body spaced from a projection on a part in the opening when the retaining means is not in operation, and

means for holding the last-mentioned means against operation.

12. An elevator including, a body having an opening adapted to engage around a part,

means for retaining the part in the opening,

means for holding the body spaced from a projection on a part in the opening when the retaining means is unactuated including, 'a pivotally mounted arm, anda spring urging means for retaining the part in the opening,

the arm toward the axis of the opening, and means holding the spring against operation. I

13. An elevator including, a body having 7 an opening adapted to engage around a part, means for retaining the part in the opening, means for holding the body spaced from a projection on a part in the opening when the pivoted arm, a spring urging the arm toward the axis of the opening, and a guide stem retaining means is inoperative including, a

on the arm, and means holding the spring against operation including a shoulder on p the stem adapted to engage a fixed part.

14. An elevator including, a body having 

